'Federal structure with devolved powers is the solution'

This is another interview with Prof. V. Suryanarayan, former Director of Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies in the University of Madras over the sensitive Sri Lankan issue and the Indian government's response to it. V. Suryanarayan is now the President of the Chennai Centre for China Studies. He is an expert specializing in the Indo - Sri Lankan relations for the last several years.

In the picture: Prof. V. Suryanarayan
Photo: Dennis S. Jesudasan

It is said that the fall of Killinochhi was a clear sign of the end of the ethnic crisis in the island. How do you read the incidents in the past five months? Is it possible for the government forces to completely wipe LTTE off the island?

The incidents only reveal the decline of the LTTE as a conventional military force. Unless the military presence is accompanied by political reforms the ethnic crisis will not come to an end. But the LTTE is very likely to switch over to a guerilla struggle. Some of them may go out of the Vanni jungle and seek shelter elsewhere and carry on with their mission.

In the case of the LTTE losing its commander (V. Prabakaran) off the battlefield, who in your opinion will take over to lead the organisation?

The LTTE is a highly centralized organization with all powers concentrated in the hands of its leader Prabakaran. So, it is difficult to say who will follow him. Also, he has not nominated anyone.

What kind of government set up would help Sri Lanka in finding a solution that "is acceptable to all communities"?

A federal structure with clear constitutional guarantee and devolution of powers alone can satisfy the political aspirations of the minority communities in the Island.

What is the Colombo’s position on the thirteenth amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution?

President Rajapaksa says he will implement the thirteenth amendment as soon as possible. But, he has not implemented it in the Eastern Province in the past. But, in all his responses to the Indian government and during his visits to New Delhi, he has only been promising to implement. Nothing substantial has come out of it.

With a multi lingual, multi religious and multi cultural society (both Indian case and otherwise), is it possible for the South Asian countries to work under a unitary structure? Is federal structure for governance with regional autonomy inferior to the unitary structure in the face of the foreign threats?

Only federal structure with devolved powers could help in governing the South Asian countries. No, it is not inferior because the citizenship remains the same. Also, with a federal structure linguistic sentiments could be solved, especially in the Indian case.

To what extent will the Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue impact the relations between India and Sri Lanka?

President Rajapaksa has successfully purchased arms from Pakistan, China and Iran and hence Sri Lankan government’s dependence on India is less. As of now, India is training Sri Lankan soldiers. There has been a qualitative change in India’s as well as Tamil Nadu’s opinion on the LTTE. Earlier, India was directly involved in the ethnic conflict, but now we are bystanders.

Given the support from Tamil Nadu for the besieged Tamils, how do you assess Indian government handling of this sensitive issue?

The central government has managed to take along the state government in the LTTE issue. Both of them are speaking the same language. There are some vocal supporters or pro LTTE parties that may not have more than ten per cent of votes. Its either DMK or AIADMK that rule the state. So, these smaller groups do not make much influence.